Job Details

Full-time Legal Secretary and PA (Private Client) at The Burnside Partnership – Marlow

The exciting opportunity has arisen to work with a small, friendly and dynamic team in our offices in a Grade 1 listed building in the heart of Marlow. The postholder will predominantly provide support to our Marlow team, with an opportunity to work alongside secretarial colleagues from our Oxford and London teams.   

Role Title:             Private Client Legal Secretary and PA

Scope of our work: Private Client, Tax and Trustsand Contentious Probate

Reports to:            Richard Burnside

Office Address:      Marlow Place, Station Road, Marlow. Buckinghamshire SL7 1NB

The Burnside Partnership

The Burnside Partnership was founded in 2015.  Our ambition is to provide our clients with outstanding service and build strong, personal relationships.  The principal work of the firm is non contentious and contentious Private Client. This includes Wills, tax planning, probate, mental incapacity and Contentious Estates and Trusts. We also offer Taxation and Trust Services.  These are very personal issues and clients share a lot of information about their families, finances and health, so it is a priority that we provide a sympathetic and caring service.

Our team has been recognised with a number of awards. Most recently, we were a finalist in the 2023 eprivateclient Excellence Awards and we have been shortlisted in two categories in the 2023 Private Client Modern Law Awards.

We are looking for a Legal Secretary/PA to join our progressive and expanding firm. The postholder will be based in Marlow in the beautiful and historic Marlow Place. The train station is within 5 minutes’ walk of the office and parking may also be available on site. Marlow High Street is on our doorstep.

The postholder will mainly provide support to our Marlow Partner and her growing team.  Prior legal secretarial experience is vital, and candidates with private client experience are particularly welcome to apply. There will be opportunities to work with our wider team, based in our Oxford and London offices.

We may be able to offer reduced hours (a minimum of four days per week) if this was desired and workable.

Salary

This is competitive, dependent on relevant experience and in the range £29,000-£34,000 pa. based on 37.5 hrs per week Monday-Friday.

Benefits

The successful applicant will enjoy a range of benefits, from membership of AXA private health insurance, to social events and a bonus scheme to reward exceptional performance as well as additional holiday entitlement for loyal service. We place a premium on professional development and training, not just on entry to the firm, but on an on-going basis.

The Role explained

Key Responsibilities and duties include:

• Word processing / typing and collating correspondence and other documents from audio / digital dictation, amending and formatting documents quickly and accurately
• Preparing e-bundles for court and mediation using online bundling documentation
• Liaising with new clients to take instructions on new matters
• Day to day typing of letters, memoranda, monthly reports, bills, file notes, etc.
• Answering the switchboard; transferring calls, taking messages accurately and passing to appropriate person(s)
• Attending clients and visitors where necessary
• Creating and amending legal documents and standard forms
• Adding, updating and maintaining documents on our case management system
• Photocopying, scanning and document collation
• Preparing e-bundles for court and mediation using online bundling documentation
• Diary management to include arranging meeting and appointments
• Organising travel arrangements and any other ad hoc duties as and when required
• Scheduling files for archiving and retrieval of files from storage
• Other support services including taking minutes of meetings and initiating and replying to correspondence on routine matters
• Ensuring compliance with quality standards and the firm’s policies in general
• Contributing as a team member including providing support to other secretaries as required
• Undertaking any specific training when required by the firm
• Ensuring the confidentiality of all the firm’s and the firm’s clients’ information and documentation

Person Specification

• Qualified to a minimum level of GCSE/O Level (5 x grade C or above including Maths and English)
• Excellent IT skills including proficiency at touch-typing
• An excellent professional working manner 

• Excellent organisational and administration skills
• Ability to work under pressure and remain focused
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to always maintain confidentiality of information
• Strong prioritisation skills and ability to manage own workload
• Ability to work flexibly with a positive attitude
• Team player
• Self-motivated and ability to use own initiative
• Minimum three years' prior experience as a Legal Secretary 

Other information

Further information about The Burnside Partnership can be found at www.theburnsidepartnership.com